10 hours ago
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Jamie Carragher has warned Arne Slot that he had a 'mind-boggling' problem in his attack that he has to fix in order to reverse Liverpool's uneven fortunes this season.
The Reds won their first Premier League match in five outings against Aston Villa on Saturday evening in a vital confidence boost amid a tricky patch of form.
The English champions have now leapt up to third in the table after wallowing lower down the standings, but have had to couple good news with bad after Slot revealed on Monday afternoon that Alexander Isak is not yet fit enough to face Real Madrid in Champions League action on Tuesday.
The £125million striker has missed Liverpool's last three matches as he continues to struggle with a recent groin injury.
But Carragher argued on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football that even when Isak is fit, he is loath to keep his place when taking the form of another big-money summer signing, Hugo Ekitike.
Stressing that the Frenchman 'has to play now', Carragher admitted that having two first-class forwards as Liverpool do could prove an ongoing headache for Slot this season.
Liverpool have a Champagne problem as they attempt to play both of their strikers - Alexander Isak and Hugo Ektike
But Jamie Carragher argued that if Arne Slot cannot crack the solution the team will suffer
'I could totally understand it's not easy, and this was always my reservation about buying two strikers for that much money who both play in the same position,' Carragher said.
'It's very difficult to see a Liverpool team get two strikers on the pitch, it's not easy to do that. So I understand trying to get Isak in the team even though Ekitike was doing well - because he's a great player, he's got to get him fit and he's also paid a lot of money for him.
'My mind boggles going forward how this is going to work, but right now Ekitike's got the shirt, he's playing really well and it will probably do Isak a little bit of good if he's out of the team to build his fitness up in training more.'
Ekitike has made 14 appearances for the Reds across all competitions for his new side, scoring six times and providing an additional assist.
But the 23-year-old was forced to sit out a chunk of the season after picking up a red card for removing his shirt after scoring against Southampton in the Carabao Cup - just as the Reds' form began to dip.
Ektike and Isak have started just once alongside one another - against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League - but their partnership was over all too briefly when Isak was forced off due to injury.
Carragher also wondered aloud if Liverpool's recent struggles have had something to do with Slot trying to overload his team with new stars.
The Reds spent over £400m on signings this summer, with Isak's record-breaking fee the second time in the window that the Merseyside club made British history in the market.
Slot has his hands tied for him at present with Isak still absent as he struggles with an injury
Florian Wirtz arrived for an eye-watering £116m, and Ekitike himself cost £79m, with Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez among other high-profile recruits.
The former Liverpool defender cited Jurgen Klopp's approach to bedding in new signings as a guide for Slot, reminding viewers that players like Fabinho and Andy Robertson were introduced more gradually than Liverpool's current new signings.
As this season's Reds continue to work out how to click, they will welcome a returning Liverpudlian on Tuesday evening in the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Liverpool academy graduate joined Real Madrid at the end of last season but only netted the club £10m as the Spanish giants paid a premium to secure the free agent for the Club World Cup.
Believing the right back to be running down his contract in a bid to move to the Spanish capital, fans gave him a hostile reception during his final run-outs in Liverpool colours at the end of last season.
And in anticipation of his return to Anfield with his new team, Slot was keen to stress that he was looking forward to seeing Alexander-Arnold again.
'I can only tell you what kind of reception he will get from me,' said Slot when asked on potential boos from fans. 'I have great memories of the player and the human being.
'He was my vice-captain last season and I have memories of working with him which were only positive and have memories from watching him on television which were only positive as well – I can remember multiple great moments of his in a Liverpool shirt.
'He will get a warm welcome from me. Let's first wait and see if he is on the pitch tomorrow. With the fans, I have no clue how that's going to be but he gets a warm welcome from me, that's for sure.'
